Table 5 Assessment of quality assurance indicators on malaria microscopy, Ethiopia, 2019
Assessment questions | Response | Frequency | Percent (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Malaria diagnosis method used | Microscopy only | 68 | 66.7 |
RDTs only | 2 | 1.9 | |
Both | 32 | 31.4 | |
Prepare both thick and thin films on one slide | Yes | 72 | 70.5 |
No | 30 | 29.5 | |
Monitor the quality of prepared blood film slides | Yes | 46 | 45.1 |
No | 56 | 54.9 | |
Routinely perform IQC in a regular manner | Yes | 38 | 37.3 |
No | 64 | 62.7 | |
Report malaria density or counting malaria parasites in a routine examination | 1+, 2+, 3+,4+ | 31 | 30.4 |
Parasite/µl | 0 | 0 | |
Infected RBCs (%) | 0 | 0 | |
Store and archive examined slides properly | Yes | 37 | 36.3 |
No | 65 | 64.7 | |
Supervised by regional and/or national levels in the last year | Yes | 61 | 59.8 |
No | 41 | 40.2 | |
Obtain refresher training on malaria microscopy diagnosis | Yes | 26 | 25.5 |
No | 76 | 74.5 | |
Participate in any EQA programme regularly | Yes | 51 | 50 |
No | 51 | 50 | |
Quality of prepared and archived slides in the health facilities | Excellent | 8 | 7.8 |
Good | 51 | 50 | |
Poor | 43 | 42.2 |